There is not a rule which allows to understand when we should conjugate a verb like that. Somebody explains some “tricks” in order to understand when you have to conjugate like that but these “tricks” are not very useful since there are many exceptions. We have a list of these verbs (in Italian they are called verbi incoativi). Here you can find some of the most common ones:

You’ve surely understood that’s an irregular verb so you should learn it and there’s not a logical way to conjugate it. But it also has a peculiarity.
In English, for example, we say I like coffee; the literal Italian translation of this sentence would be Io piaccio caffè but this sentence doesn’t make any sense. The right translation of this sentence is Mi piace il caffè or A me piace il caffè.
So, if we want to say that we like something we should say:

When you conjugate the verb normally (io piaccio, tu piaci, etc.) in English it should be translated as “somebody/something likes me”, “somebody/something likes you”, etc. BUT the correct way to say it in Italian is io piaccio a…, tu piaci a… etc. so you should add the preposition a to realize a right sentence. An example will explain it better: if you want to translate in Italian the sentence “Sarah likes you” you should say Tu piaci a Sarah so you have to change the position of the subject and of the verb:

Marco: Do you like Italian television?
Sarah: I don’t like it. I don’t watch tv in USA either.
Will: Sometimes I watch it. I like watching sport programs and documentaries. What about you Marco?
Marco: I only like cabaret programs. I don’t like reality shows.
Will: Neither do I. Do you know USA tv?
Marco: Yes, I do but I don’t understand all the things they say! I’m not very fluent in English.

1. The red pen.
2. A blonde boy.
3. She has green eyes.
4. A white car.
5. My friend is tall.
6. My sister is redhead.
7. In the kitchen there is a brown table.
8. The sofa in the living room is orange.
9. My brother is dark-skinned.
10. I’ve got a very fat cat.

Right answers/Risposte esatte: …/10

Something about Italy and a little tip!

ITALIAN VS EUROPEANS

There are many jokes about Italian people; if you want to know a little bit more about Italian culture and laugh look for Italians vs Europeans on Youtube and you’ll find a short and funny video (made by an Italian) about the differences between Italians and Europeans.

Download Italian movies and tv shows and try to watch them without subtitles. You will learn many new words and expressions, you will understand more about Italian culture and you will learn how to pronounce correctly. I recommend you the old movies (for example Fellini’s ones) and the old tv shows (the first shows made by RAI, the public tv) since they do have a better quality.

If your right answers are between 25 and 29, congratulations!
If your right answers are between 19 and 25…it’s probable that some of the topics are not very clear to you. Try again and succeed!
If your right answers are less than 18, review the lesson and everything will be clear!